spinning certification advice?

[Resi]

I don't know which certification is better, it all depends on the the person which instructs the class. In my gym there are five instructors and only one knows what it's all about (she is an athlete and biker), the rest don't have a clue. I see so many spinning students on bikes doing everything wrong, but no instructor corrects them... my opinion... there is a lack of good edu for fitness instructor in every directions...it's to easy to get the certification.

Resi

[Funhog]

In my gym there are five instructors and only one knows what it's all about (she is an athlete and biker), the rest don't have a clue. I see so many spinning students on bikes doing everything wrong, but no instructor corrects them... my opinion... there is a lack of good edu for fitness instructor in every directions...it's to easy to get the certification.

Resi

This is unfortunately so true...too many instructors have no clue about good form or how to correct riders, or even anything about physiology. This is what I am personally on a crusade to change, through my own orientations and sessions at WSSC; and I know many other Master Instructors feel the same way, but I can't speak for each and every one of them in all the different programs.

But alas...there will always be those instructors who don't give a sh*@ and just teach what they want and not worry about safety and effectiveness of their classes.

I would add that there is not a lack of good education for fitness instructors... there is a LOT of great education out there. Lots of great conferences, continuing ed, workshops, home studies, etc. For Spinning, and indoor cycling, there are great Continuing Ed workshops and WSSC is an amazing way to learn and grow as an instructor and to be better at coaching, correcting students, creating profiles, understanding physiology and training principles, etc.

The problem Resi, is that far too many instructors think they don't NEED to learn more. They think they know it all. Or they think they can't afford it (I say they can't afford not to do it). Or they don't take the time to learn more. personally, I believe that if you take the step to get certified, and are teaching students to push themselves (maybe even to intensities that they shouldn't be doing) then you have an OBLIGATION to keep up to date, and to learn as much as possible.

I can't figure it out, because if I didn't constantly update my profiles, my cueing, and my own motivation through CED, or keep up to date with the latest training principles, I would go crazy. And I have been teaching this stuff to others for 11 years! I still need more for me. CANI - Constant and Never-ending Improvement. We all need it, no matter what you're teaching or what you're doing. EVERYONE needs to learn more, to improve.

If I had my druthers, I'd make it a requirement for IDC instructors to already have some sort of certification in fitness prior to getting certified. There are some who don't even know how to tell you what "aerobic" and "anaerobic" mean...

sigh...I'll get off my soapbox now!

Dogmama, do you know who your MI will be? What town is the orientation in?

[Resi]

This is unfortunately so true...too many instructors have no clue about good form or how to correct riders, or even anything about physiology. This is what I am personally on a crusade to change, through my own orientations and sessions at WSSC; and I know many other Master Instructors feel the same way, but I can't speak for each and every one of them in all the different programs.

But alas...there will always be those instructors who don't give a sh*@ and just teach what they want and not worry about safety and effectiveness of their classes.

I would add that there is not a lack of good education for fitness instructors... there is a LOT of great education out there. Lots of great conferences, continuing ed, workshops, home studies, etc. For Spinning, and indoor cycling, there are great Continuing Ed workshops and WSSC is an amazing way to learn and grow as an instructor and to be better at coaching, correcting students, creating profiles, understanding physiology and training principles, etc.

The problem Resi, is that far too many instructors think they don't NEED to learn more. They think they know it all. Or they think they can't afford it (I say they can't afford not to do it). Or they don't take the time to learn more. personally, I believe that if you take the step to get certified, and are teaching students to push themselves (maybe even to intensities that they shouldn't be doing) then you have an OBLIGATION to keep up to date, and to learn as much as possible.

I can't figure it out, because if I didn't constantly update my profiles, my cueing, and my own motivation through CED, or keep up to date with the latest training principles, I would go crazy. And I have been teaching this stuff to others for 11 years! I still need more for me. CANI - Constant and Never-ending Improvement. We all need it, no matter what you're teaching or what you're doing. EVERYONE needs to learn more, to improve.

If I had my druthers, I'd make it a requirement for IDC instructors to already have some sort of certification in fitness prior to getting certified. There are some who don't even know how to tell you what "aerobic" and "anaerobic" mean...

sigh...I'll get off my soapbox now!

Dogmama, do you know who your MI will be? What town is the orientation in?

You speack out of my heart, I am on a crusade too. Last week I had a big dispute with my friends which are instructors about this topic and now they don't talk to me anymore. Well I guess to bad... Exactly what you say, they think they know it all, well they don't. Anyway to make a difference, I decided to get me educated in personal trainer, spinning and Pilate's/reformer and what ever interests me... I come from a professional ballet career (now retired), I know how hard you have to work and to keep you updated. You said it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry my English is maybe not the best, hope you all understand.

Oh by the way, you organize biketrips in Europe? I am from Europe...

Thanks for the moral support.

You take care

Resi

P.S.: I will be in Colorado riding the tour de Colorado, maybe you are there too?

[Funhog]

You speack out of my heart, I am on a crusade too. Last week I had a big dispute with my friends which are instructors about this topic and now they don't talk to me anymore. Well I guess to bad... Exactly what you say, they think they know it all, well they don't. Anyway to make a difference, I decided to get me educated in personal trainer, spinning and Pilate's/reformer and what ever interests me... I come from a professional ballet career (now retired), I know how hard you have to work and to keep you updated. You said it all!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry my English is maybe not the best, hope you all understand.

Oh by the way, you organize biketrips in Europe? I am from Europe...

Thanks for the moral support.

You take care

Resi

P.S.: I will be in Colorado riding the tour de Colorado, maybe you are there too?

Your English is just fine!

Where in Europe are you from? I currently do tours in France and Italy, but have also done Switzerland and Denmark. I have lots of plans for adding more regions - Spain, Croatia, Prague, Austria, Ireland, etc.

Is it the Bicycle Tour of Colorado that you're doing? Or the Ride the Rockies? I can't usually take a whole week off for that, but i would love to. I might be in Europe for 3 weeks this summer doing R&D for tours. I love riding around here - it's pretty challenging. Hope you're doing lots of climbing!!

cheers!

Jennifer

[Resi]

Your English is just fine!

Where in Europe are you from? I currently do tours in France and Italy, but have also done Switzerland and Denmark. I have lots of plans for adding more regions - Spain, Croatia, Prague, Austria, Ireland, etc.

Is it the Bicycle Tour of Colorado that you're doing? Or the Ride the Rockies? I can't usually take a whole week off for that, but i would love to. I might be in Europe for 3 weeks this summer doing R&D for tours. I love riding around here - it's pretty challenging. Hope you're doing lots of climbing!!

cheers!

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer,

I am from Switzerland and lived for 23 years in Germany. Europe is a great place to bike, my husband and I did many Tours I may say also some of them where Epics...
The ride we are going to do is the Bicycle Tour of Colorado, I guess I have to pack extra lungs, then here in Texas it's pretty flat...

So you take care and good luck with your tourbusiness, if you need any infos about Germany/Switzerland or Austria let me know, I guess you can write me a mail.

C-ya

Resi

[Resi]

In this Mad Dog spin instructor certification course, is there a test at the end?

Resi

[Zeek]

You get certified and then are supposed to spend some time teaching a gig, subbing, etc. to get experience under your belt and get your spin "legs" (so to speak). Then, yes, there is a test (it's open book and a piece of cake and you take it online at your own convenience, when you are ready) to become certified at what is referred to at a LEVEL STAR ONE instructor. There is a LEVEL TWO STAR test to take (after you complete enough CECs and accumulate a certain amount of STAR points) and then the highest level is a STAR THREE instructor (except for Master Instructor--that is the highest level but you work for Mad Dogg). You can read more about it at the spinning.com website.

[Dogmama]

Dogmama, do you know who your MI will be? What town is the orientation in?

I don't know who my MI is. The workshop is May 3 in Tucson. I am just hoping that it isn't cancelled for lack of interest. My ACSM workshop was just cancelled for that reason...

[Dogmama]

Dogmama, do you know who your MI will be? What town is the orientation in?

I just checked the spinning website - my MI is Lori Pro.

On another note, do you carry liability insurance as a spinning instructor?

[Zeek]

I don't see any M.I. by that name in the listing of M.I.'s on the spinning.com website. Funhog, since you are an M.I., am I missing something?

Dogmomma I don't carry any insurance as a spinning instructor but I am considered an employee by the club where I teach (albeit part-time). I am covered under the club's insurance plan. I'm not sure what it would mean for an independent contractor. Sorry I couldn't help. Hopefully someone else can jump in here with advice.

[Dogmama]

Oops, it's Lorey Pro. I found the name when I checked my reservation. S/he is listed as the master instructor..

[Zeek]

Dogma (I kinda like that as a nickname for you!) I'm still not seeing this person as an M.I. Perhaps she's new to the M.I. team? Check out this link of the M.I. team (alphabetized by first name):
http://www.spinning.com/page.asp?p_k...5941B30AF8DDA2

[Dogmama]

Dogma (I kinda like that as a nickname for you!) I'm still not seeing this person as an M.I. Perhaps she's new to the M.I. team? Check out this link of the M.I. team (alphabetized by first name):
http://www.spinning.com/page.asp?p_k...5941B30AF8DDA2

Hmmm, dunno. She's listed as the MI in my registration - but maybe she is actually the coordinator for the Tucson workshop.